First ODI at Dambulla Rabada, Shamsi set up South Africa’s five-wicket win

Published : 9:10 am July 30, 2018 | No comments so far | |

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By M. Shamil Amit reporting from Dambulla

South Africa defeated Sri Lanka by five wickets in the first ODI played at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium yesterday.

Sri Lanka were bowled out for 193 in 34.3 overs and South Africa raced to their target scoring 196 for five in 31 overs.

Even though the Proteas lost two early wickets they came back into the game through a solid 86-run stand for the third wicket between Skipper Francois du Plessis and
Quinton de Kock.

Both made identical knocks of 47 before Duminy’s quick-fire 32-ball unbeaten knock of 53, which had half a dozen boundaries and two sixes, saw them through.

Skipper Angelo Mathews won the toss and decided to take first lease of the wicket but the hosts collapsed to 36 for five after just eight overs.

Right-arm pacie Kagiso Rabada did the early damage bagging three of the top five wickets to fall.

The Sri Lankan batsmen had only themselves to be blamed as they threw away their wickets with some rash shots.

The hosts recovered under tremendous pressure as the tide changed after Thisara Perera joined Kusal Perera at the crease.

Left-arm spinner Tabraiz Shamsi made the breakthrough for South Africa with the prize wicket of Thisara who was unfortunate to miss out on a half century by one run as he edged a catch to wicket-keeper Quinton de Kock having added a valuable 92-run stand for the sixth wicket with Kusal

The pair showed scant respect to the South African bowlers and began accumulating runs at will and Thisara in particular was harsh against the pacies.In the process, the pair posted their 50-run partnership and also the 100-run stand for Sri Lanka.

Left-arm spinner Tabraiz Shamsi made the breakthrough for South Africa with the prize wicket of Thisara who was unfortunate to miss out on a half century by one run as he edged a catch to wicket-keeper Quinton de Kock having added a valuable 92-run stand for the sixth wicket with Kusal.

Later, Kusal and Akila Dhananjaya put in some resistance and the pair managed to add 38 runs for the seventh wicket before Dhananjaya was dismissed by Shamsi.

Kusal did not last long thereafter, becoming Shamsi’s third victim having compiled 81 runs in 72 balls that included 11 boundaries and a six.

Suranga Lakmal was the next to go becoming Rabada’s fourth victim which was followed by Shamsi bagging his fourth wicket that of Lahiru Kumara stumped by de Kock who also had a field day with five victims to his credit.
The two sides will meet in their second ODI scheduled to be played at the same venue on August 1 which is a day and night encounter.